USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 68
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BIOGRAPHIES.
We give in connection with the history of Hudson, indeed as a part of its history, personal sketches of its leading citizens and old settlers of the township:
John Baker, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Feb. 7, 1844, in Germany, son of John and Sophia Baker, who came to America in 1861; in 1875 he married Minnie Swingdorf, also a native of Germany, and they have had 3 children, Emma, Leney and Frank. Mr. B. bought his present farm of 100 acres in 1867, where he has followed farming with good success.
James C. Bean, farmer, sec. 31; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Jan. 8, 1845, in Chemung county, N. Y., son of James and Hester Bean, the former a native of Vermont. and the latter of New York, now deceased; father still living in New York State. James C., the subject of this sketch, came to this county in 1866, first locating on sec. 30, but now resides on sec. 31. He enlisted for three years to fight for the Union cause in Co. A., 194th N. Y. Vol. Inf., but was soon mustered out, and after returning home he married Miss Mary Hicks, March 27, 1866, who was born abont 1852; Grace is their only child. Mr. Bean owns 52 acres of land worth $50 an acre.
James A. Davidson, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Nov. 5, 1824, in Preble county, O., son of Richard and Salina Davidson, father a native of Vermont, and died in Portage county, O., July 2, 1838, and mother a native of Connecticut, who died in this county in September, 1869. James A. came to this tp. April 7, 1865, where he still resides. July 6, 1847, he married Miss Rosanna Schiffelie, who was born in Germany Dec. 4, 1825, and their 3 children are Julia, Mary and N. A. Mrs. D. died Ang. 24, 1855, and Mr. D. married Beulah Adams Jan. 7, 1857, who was born in New York Dec. 9, 1830, and their 2 children are Ida M. and Nellie. Mr. Davidson received a good English education, has
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had fair success in his calling, and now owns 160 acres of good land ; has been School Trustee.
Joseph Druliner, farmer, sec. 33; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Jan. 16, 1817, in Warren county, O., son of Gabriel and Catharine Druliner, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania, who came to this tp. in 1834. Joseph and his sister Rebecca, neither of whom is married, occupy the old homestead, consisting now of 250 acres of good land well improved.
Moses Emery, farmer, sec. 16; P. O., New Carlisle; was born in Merrimac county, N. H., April 21, 1820; married Rebecca Haines in 1846, and of their 7 children these 5 are living: Frank, Susan, Nathan, Sarah and John. Mr. E. again married, in December, 1876, Mrs. Louisa Solloway, who was born in England in 1830, and by her has had 6 children: Emma, Elizabeth, Julia, Ira, Charles and Annie E. Mr. Emery is a very energetic man, has followed wagon- making some 20 years of his time, has kept hotel, has followed canal boating, but for some years now he has been farming and pleading law to some extent. He has been Trustee for 11 years, and lias held other offices. He owns 80 acres of land and has the control of about 400 acres. His father, Nathan, was a native of England, and his mother, Elizabeth, of Ireland.
Alexander Hicks, farmer, sec. 32; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Sep. 10, 1812 in Tioga county, N. Y .; emigrated to this State in an early day, settling at Newtown, Fountain county, where he followed merchandising for several years but was burned ont, losing very heavily; he then moved to Champaign county, Ill., near Sidney, where he followed farming; he came to this county in 1853, buying 14 acres of land, to which he has added until he now has 231 acres. In December 1833, he married Frances Cornrike, who was born Sept. 16, 1814, in New York, and of their 6 children these + are liv- ing: George, Richard, Alba and Schuyler C. Mr. H. has held the office of Assessor, and was enrolling agent in the time of the war. His parents were George and Nancy Hicks, natives of New York. T. M. Hicks, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Dec. 5, 1841, in Chemung county, N. Y., son of Alva and Harriet Hicks; March 18, 1863, he married Miss Mahala West, who was born in the same county Oct. 18, 1842, and 3 of their 4 children are living, namely : Miles W., Hattie E. and Walter T. Mr. H. has followed lumbering, but is now farming, with good success, owning 40 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the M. E. Church.
A. J. Holman, farmer, sec. 8; P. O., New Carlisle; was born in Monroe county, N. Y., June 13, 1840; was brought by his parents in 1850 to this county; has been in several of the Western States; after settling here he was first engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness, then operated the Francis flouring mill about 15 years in Galena tp., but for the last four years he has given his entire atten- tion to farming, with great success. He owns 160 acres of good land, all well improved. May 15, 1869, he married Sarah B. Francis, and their 2 children are Fred and Catharine; Mrs. H. died Dec. 7
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1873, and Mr. H. married Ellen M. Knight Oct. 10, 1878, who was born March 28, 1853, in Berrien county, Mich., and Edie M. is their only child. Mr. H. has been Trustee, is an Odd Fellow and Free Mason, and he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. His father, Thomas Holman, was born in England, and came to America in 1826, first settling in Monroe county, N. Y., and he with his wife, also a native of New York State, emigrated to this county in 1850 and they now reside in this tp Mr. H. is now 84 years old.
Charles J. Miller, farmer, sec. 29; P. O., New Carlisle; was born June 15, 1827, in Germany ; emigrated to America in 1853, landing at New York city; went to Chicago and settled in this county; in 1860 he moved upon his present farm of 96 acres. In February, 1855, he married Mary Baker, who was born June 6, 1826, and of their 10 children these 6 are living: Richey, William, Lena, Charles, John and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Lutheran Church. His parents, Christ and Elizabeth Miller, were also natives of Germany, and are now deceased; his father died in the old country, and his mother eame to America in 1857, and died at his residence Aug. 31, 1872.
Ann Petre, daughter of William and Mary (Cox) Sutton, natives of Pennsylvania, was born Jan. 30, 1831, and April 20, 1851, married John F. Petre, who was born March 10, 1824, in Germany, and who worked on the Erie canal for a number of years and came to this county in 1854, where he followed farming until his death, Sept. 18, 1878. Her 3 children are: Mary J., born Feb. 2, 1852, and married Bicoe D. Bulla, Feb. 2. 1874; he was born Ang. 5, 1851, and their 3 children are Roscoe J., Gny and Blanche; Mr. and Mrs. B. live at Elkhart, Ind. The second is William W. Petre, who still lives with his widowed mother; he has been unfortunate, as at the age of eight years one of his arms was broken, at the age of 10 one of his knees became stiffened by serofula, and in 1879 one of his legs was broken; he has a good education, having attended the high school at Carlisle, La Porte, and graduated at Valparaiso, Ind .; and notwithstanding all his misfortunes he has a great deal of " push and go-ahead-a-tiveness." The third is Clara, a young lady living at home with her mother. The homestead con- sists of 120 acres of good land, see. 16; P. O., New Carlisle.
James Ray was born Sept. 12, 1813, in Luzerne county, Penn., son of William and Mary Ray, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut; was married Feb 2, 1836, to Eunice Kieffer, who was born Ang. 1, 1815, in Seneca county, N. Y., and 7 of their 10 children are living. Mr. Ray emigrated to Wisconsin in 1840, passing through this county; in a few years he went to Ohio, and from there to Michigan, thence to Knox county, Ill., where he resided abont four years; thenee to Webster county, Ia., and in 1853 to this county, where he has resided ever since, following farming with fair success; when a young man he learned the carpenter's and gunsmithing trades, which he followed a number of
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years. He has held the office of Trustee. Residence, sec. 17; P. O., Three Oaks, Mich.
Fleming Reynolds, farmer, sec. 32; P. O., Rolling Prairie; was born in Wayne county, Ind., May 28, 1817; was reared on a farm and received a common-school education; May 28, 1845, he married Miss E. L. Barnes, who was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., April 12, 1824, the daughter of a Methodist minister, who had preached the gospel 55 years; Mr. R. came to this county in 1835, settling in La Porte. His 6 children are: L. W., Mary E., Emma C., James F., Josephine and Charlie; L. W. is now practicing law in Boone county, Ia., Mary E. married Daniel White, now a grocer at New Carlisle, St. Joseph county; Emma married Mr. P. S. Hicks, and they live in Boone county, Ia., where he is a bookkeeper for a large firm. Mr. R. commenced life in limited circumstances, but by close attention to his calling he has become a thrifty farmer, now owning 140 acres of land, worth $60 an acre. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. His father, Joseph F. Rey- nolds, was born in Virginia, came to Wayne county, Ind., in 1817, and in 1833 to this county, where he taught the first school in the tp., in the winter of 1833-'4. His wife, Mary, was a native of Kentucky.
Major D. Solloway, farmer, sec. 16; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Dec. 19, 1830, in Gloucester, Eng., the son of Major and Annie Solloway, and was brought to this country by his parents in 1832; May 18, 1850, he married Miss Isabel Hodson, who was born Feb. 7, 1830, and they have had 7 children. Mrs. S. died July 11, 1867, and Mr. S., in 1868, married Miss Christina Klinger, who was born in Germany in 1838, and 2 of their 5 children are living. Mr. S. served three years in Co. B, 1st Ind. Cavalry. He owns 80 acres of good land.
Anna C. Towers was born July 14, 1843, in this county; the daughter of William and Abigail (Proud) Towers, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Ohio, who came to this county in an early day. She married Edwin G. Towers May 1, 1877, in Spain; Mr. T. came to America when quite young; his father had to leave Spain on account of his religious belief; he served in the Mexican war and also in the great war of the Rebell- ion : was wounded at Pittsburg Landing, and again at Fort Donel- son ; he first enlisted in Co. G, 17th Ill. Inft., as a private, but was promoted Drill-Master and finally Colonel; he can speak Spanish, French, German and English languages fluently. For a number of years he sold the Wilson sewing-machine, and he is now known as the " Lightning sewing-machine man;" but is at present engaged in farming and practicing law; in the latter he has had good suc- cess; he has been Sheriff and a member of the detective service. Residence, sec. 18. P. O., New Carlisle.
A. M. Warren, farmer, sec. 33; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Sept. 17, 1804, in Cape May county, N. J .; came to this county in 1830, where he crected the first blacksmith shop in the county; he
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followed blacksmithing a number of years and opened a farm; although he has met with many hardships during life, he has been reasonably successful in the accumulation of property; he owns 380 acres of land, most of which is worth $60 an aere; he first located in Wills tp., near the south line of this tp. He first mar- ried Mary Lucas, December, 1828, who was born in 1808 in Warren county, Ohio, and they have had 6 children, 4 of whom are living. She died in 1840, and in 1856 he married Mary France, who was born in Ohio in 1824, and by her he has had S children. Mr. W. has held the offices of Trustee and County Commissioner. His son is master mechanic in the Chicago & Northwestern railway shops. Mr. W. has one of the best farms in the tp., is a very active man for one of his age, and devotes his entire attention to his business. His parents, David and Elizabeth Warren, were natives of Dela- ware, who emigrated to Ohio abont 1822, and to this State about 1840, and died in St. Joseph county.
Seth P. Whitney. farmer, sec. 20; P. O., New Carlisle; was born June 1, 1822, in New York; emigrated to this county in 1847; worked at the carpenter's and cooper's trades, in the milling busi- ness, and finally farming. March 13, 1855, he married Rebecca E. Stanton, who was born June 10, 1830, and 4 of their 5 children are living, namely: Charles O., John S., Anna and George M. Mr. W. has been Assessor and Clerk of the Board of Trustees; he is a Free Mason and an Odd Fellow. His father, James, was a native of New York, and his mother, Laura, of Connecticut.
John C. Williams, farmer, sec. 32; P. O., New Carlisle; was born Jan. 8, 1840, in Elgin county, Canada; came to the United States in 1860 and soon afterward volunteered in the 11th Indiana Battery; promoted to Gen. Thomas' staff, then traveling Quartermaster-Ser- geant, serving in all four years. Sept. 14, 1865, at Fort Wayne, Ind., he married Sarah J. Bartmers, who was born April 5, 1839, in Miami county, Ohio, and their 3 children are Thomas W., Benja- min E., and Mary E. Mr. W. obtained a classical education in the best schools in Canada; has followed bookkeeping, but for the last nine years he has given his entire attention to farming, in which he has had good success. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. His parents were George and Mary Williams.
KANKAKEE TOWNSHIP.
This township lies northeast of the center of the county, and is located principally on Rolling Prairie, and lies in Congressional township 37. It was one of the three townships that originally formed the entire county.
To the thoughtful man who has reflected on the common opera- tions of life, which but for their commonness would be deemed full of marvel, few things are more wonderful than the history of the resolute men who left their homes in the East or South, on the Connecticut or Potomac, and settled in the wilds of the boundless West, there to make homes and fortunes for themselves and fami- lies. With but little or no protection from the Government, they were exposed to Indian jealousy and hostility, and for a time dragged out but a feeble existence. But the pioneers who settled Kankakce township were not the men to be dismayed or disheart- ened by the adverse circumstances that surrounded them. They energetically set themselves to work, cleared away the forests, and broke up the beautiful prairies, and in an almost incredibly short time, where once stood the rugged oak and swarthy pine, vast fields of ripening grain awaited the husbandman's siekle.
The first actual settlers of Kankakee township reached Centre township in 1830, where they stopped and erected a log cabin on the land now occupied by Moses Stanton. Among the number were Philip Fail, Richard Harris, Benajah and Aaron Stanton. In the following spring they broke ground and put in a crop. Philip Fail, in the fall of 1830, took up a claim on section 18. This was the first cabin built in Kankakee township, and it is said Mr. Fail was the first settler in Kankakee. Benajah S. Fail, the eldest son of Philip Fail, was born in this cabin on section 18, in October, 1830, and was the first male white child born in the county. Mr. Fail now lives . on the section of land where he was born, and is one of the oldest settlers now living in this township.
In May, 1831, came Jesse West, David Stoner, Arthur Irving and Ezekiel Provolt. They were on the road 18 days, and came from near Lafayette. Mrs. Provolt rode back to the camping ground of the night before, on one occasion, to obtain fire with which to cook the evening meal. They encamped, upon their arrival in the town- ship, about one-half mile north of the Rolling Prairie depot, and soon after moved upon the site of Rolling Prairie village, where they put up cabins. Chapel W. Brown, Jacob Miller, James Hiley and others arrived the same year. Myron Ives came in the fall of 1831, and in the spring of 1832 Charles Ives, Alexander Blackburn and Solomon Aldrich arrived in the township.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
In 1831 the Black Hawk war began, and caused great consterna- tion among the settlers. Fear and excitement spread through the entire settlement. It was reported that Black Hawk and 500 braves were on the war path, and raid upon the settlement might be ex- pected at any time. The settlers became thoroughly aroused, and fled for their lives, taking refuge in the house of a Mr. Egbert, on Terre Coupee Prairie, in St. Joseph county, where a large company of settlers were congregated from all parts of the surrounding country. The land sale occurred the following June, and while the men were gone to attend to it a rumor was circulated that the Indians were again on the rampage, and the women and children who were left at home alone became alarmed, and many of them again fled, but rumor proved to be unfounded, and order and quiet were soon restored.
The Indians retarded for a short time the further settlement of the township. Nearly every day some rumor would get into eircu- lation of horrible butcheries and murders of women and children in some of the neighboring settlements, but the settlers soon be- came used to such reports, and paid but little attention to them. But after the close of the Black Hawk war the settlement of the township became very rapid, many families arriving daily from all parts of the country. About this time Nathan B. Nichols, Ebenezer Russell and Leonard Cutler arrived, and built cabins and commenced to make improvements.
Up to this time there were no near neighbors, the settlers living eight or ten miles apart, Indian trails in many instances being the guide from house to house. Yet they were a neighborly, hospit- able people, visiting each other frequently, feeling their dependence upon each other in time of Indian raids or distress, or sickness. They frequently went five or six miles to watch through the long hours of the night with some sick neighbor, and the poor among them were as tenderly cared for as if they were members of their own family. And this hospitable spirit was not confined to their neighbors alone. The "lateh-string always hung out," and the stranger and new-comer to the settlement were equally welcomed and provided for. The cabins were rude structures, and the furni- ture scanty; their fare, plain and simple, but plentiful, and they were contented and happy in their new homes. Upon the prairies there were plenty of wild fruits, the forests full of game, and the numerous lakes and small streams in the vicinity supplied them with an abundance of fish.
In 1834 Zenos Preston, Jacob Wagner, and many others arrrived and located in the township. In 1835-'6 settlers came in large numbers, and from this date the township was rapidly filled up. Farms were opened in every direction, and progress and develop- ment was visible in all parts of the township. The arrivals from this period became so numerous that it would be impracticable to trace them further.
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Every new country has its bad as well as its good men, and Kan- kakee is not an exception. In 1837 a terrible tragedy occurred in this township, resulting in the death of a promising young man, whose life was taken for a few dollars in money. We give an account of the sad affair as related by an old settler living in the township at the time.
In 1836 two young men came to the township and built cabins: one was Joshua M. Coplin, the other was named Scott. It appears that the young man Coplin had a small sum of money due him from parties in Virginia, and he went East to procure the same, Scott going with him. The latter stopped at the home of his mother in Ohio, and young Coplin went on to Virginia, his native State. Having obtained the money, $400 of which was in silver and $200 in gold, he started back; reaching Ohio he stopped at the house of Scott's mother and staid all night. In the morning he resumed his journey home; Scott soon followed, and overtaking young Coplin they rode on together, each being on horseback. When within less than a half mile of Coplin's cabin Scott drew his pistol and shot him dead, and took his money and fled; but he was followed and captured, taken to La Porte and placed in confine- ment. The body was found by James Andrews on the following morning. The murder occurred Feb. 2, 1838. A short time afterward Scott was tried, found guilty, and hung at La Porte June 15, 1838.
The first religious services in the township were held at the house of Alexander Blackburn, upon the place now occupied by Miner Nesbitt, in November, 1832. Rev. James Crawford conducted the services. At this time there were but seven members of the Church. The next year the Church organization was completed, and the membership increased to 20 persons. The following were chosen and installed as elders: James Blair, William O. Ross, David Dinwiddie and Myron Ives. From this time the meetings were held in an old log school-house on the Niles road.
The first school-house was built on the Michigan road in 1835. It was built of logs, like the cabins, and stood opposite the place where John Provolt now lives. A Mr. Emerson was the first teacher, and before the close of the term the building burned down. A frame building was soon after erected on the same site.
A large company of Indians, numbering over 500, encamped on the Kankakee marsh for a short time in 1835, but they soon moved on, going farther West. From this time on, but few Indians were seen in the township.
The village of Byron was laid out and platted in 1836, and the plat was filed for record May 22, 1837. It was located on the south part of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 15, in township 37 north, of range 2 west. It was located upon lands of Stephen G. Hunt and Hiram Orum. Elias Howe made an addition to the plat in 1849. There were but two cabins on the site of Byron in 1835. Amzi Clark put up the first frame building
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
in 1835. It stood on the south side of "Chicago street," and was used as a store by Clark for about a year; he then sold out to Orum & Phelps, who ran it for some time, and sold it to Stewart & Lillie; it afterward passed into the hands of Willis Peck, who in turn sold it to Frazer & Campbell. The first postoffice in the township was located in the village of Byron in 1835. It was kept in a log cabin on Chicago street, S. G. Hunt being the first postmaster. It was moved to Rolling Prairie in 1853.
A blacksmith shop and dwelling house were built in 1836 by F. W. Talbot. W. G. Hickman put up a frame store-building in the year 1841. The same year a school-house was built by subscription. The first teacher was Joseph M. Salisbury.
A hotel was partly built in 1847, on the south side of Chicago street, by a Mr. Wilber, who sold the unfinished building to Charles Lebo, who moved it to the north side of the street and completed it, and ran it as a hotel for three years; he then sold ont to Hickman, who ran the house until 1852 and then sold to I. N. Whitehead, who continued the business five years. In 1847 a warehouse was built and kept by Stewart & Lillie.
At this time Byron was quite an extensive grain market. Farmers brought their grain there from great distances, and the village was doing a good business. Its merchants were prosperous, and Chicago street was one of unusual activity. But now its streets are empty, its business houses gone, its shops and dwellings deserted and fast going to decay. A Methodist church was built there in 1849, but it has been torn down and carried away, and the village of Byron now exists only in name. It was ruined and killed by the Northern Indiana railroad, which passed to the north of it, thus giving the death blow to Byron and bringing into being the new town of Portland, or "Rolling Prairie," as it is more familiarly known.
ROLLING PRAIRIE.
This village was laid out and platted by J. W. Walker, of the city of La Porte, in 1853, and is described in the survey as being in the northeast quarter of township number 37 north, of range num- ber 2 west.
The first cabin built on the present site of Rolling Prairie was erected in the spring of 1831 by Ezekiel Provolt. West and Irving put up cabins the same year. W. J. Walker purchased the land upon which the village is now located at a land sale in 1832, but he permitted the settlers to remain on the premises until 1834. The place was known as Nauvoo until the survey was made and recorded in 1853 by W. J. Walker, who then gave the village the name of Portland, which is its legal name, but it is better known as " Rolling Prairie," the postoffice and railroad company having adopted the last mentioned name. The railroad was completed to the village in January, 1852, and a station honse was erected in
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
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